Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-12
QUINTnLUS QUITE CAUS7lC.
Secretary Lamar Writes a Sharp
Letter to Sparks.
HARMONY IN THE DEPARTMENT
In Order to Bring it About Either the
Land Commissioners Or His SUI
perior Must Resign-Wash-
ingtOn News.


WAsHINGToN, Nov. 1l.-Secretary Lamar
this afternoon sent letter to Commissioner
Sparks, sharply repling TO communication
from the latter, relative to the adjustment Of
the Chicago St. Paul, Minneapolis Il Omaha
railroad land grants, and informing Sparks,
in conclusion, that either he or the secretary
must forthwith retire from the department.
The case in point is that wherein Sparks
decided the Omaha road had forfeited large
amount of their granted land. Shortly after
Secretary Lamar received Sparks decision
and reversed it, restoring the lands to the
railroad company. Sparks wrote long letter
to the secretary protesting against the re-
versal. The secretary in reply says
he is fortunately able to answer
it conveniently and with rapidity
because every point submitted by Sparks has
been subject to reconsideration, 'having been
presented through the columns Of the press,
whose enterprise put them in pos
session Of these points before was
apprised that the decision referred
to in your letter had incurred your
dsapproval and met with your displeasure."
The secretary then goes on, at great length,
to consider the points in his decision
which Sparks had claimed were er
roneous and to show why, from
ms a%s he eKher tneK sspos"n to-
enter upon polemic discussion with subor-
dinate nor to engage with him, at his insist
ance, in gadiatorial combat, especially so
in matter in which he has received my
carefully matured instructions-a matter of
pressing Importance in the public admins
tration of my public duties. In no
other way can the functions Of o great
public department. be successfully executed
than for a chief to command and
ering various points raised by the commits
sioner, the secretary says: ~ had conceived
it my duty, as the head of this department, to
direct you as to what duties require you to
perform. had also conceived it to be equally
your duty, under the same obligations to
obey my instructions or withdraw yourself
from the duty of so doing in the only way
recognized under the laws, and usages
Of public life, in civilized countries,
especially esp IN Sro. 80 when was myself
act of congress which imposes on me the eX-
elusive duty OF causing these grants to be
adjusted. The practical effect Of your pres
ent course is that you cannot execute my
orders and follow my instructions and CO
operate in my. administration with
with reference to a vitally important
interest. 1t is as impossible for me, in con
travention OF my own opinions, arrived at
after long and anxious study, to surrender
| them to you. Under these circumstances it
| is due to the orderly and decorous admins
tration Of government, to the important pub
| lie interest," to the common cause confided into
our hands by the president and to the personal
regard we should both entertain for him,
that he should be allowed to choose secre.
! tary of the interior who will conform his ad
| ministration to your opinions or appoint a
| commissioner of public lands who will ad
! minister his bureau in harmony, spirit and
Of y, ,;.,r Q
ment. This alternative l shall submit tc
the PRESIDENT =.